Clock.



W. H. THOMPSON.

CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 15. I915.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, n. C.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. THOMPSON, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, .ASSIGNOR- TO THOMPSONELECTRIC CLOCK COMPANY, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OFTENNESSEE.

CLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

Original application filed October 28, 1914, Serial No. 869,014. Dividedand this application filed March 15,

disclosures of my said application, I do not limit myself to its usewith the elements, constructions and combinations of the electricautomobile clock of that application, as the present improvements aresusceptible of use in connection with any clock, and more particularly,are intended for use on clocks used for automobile, railway and marineservice in any situation where the clock is subject to vibration, shockor jar.

My object is to provide improved means for cushioning a clock movementin its shell or case and for absorbing shocks, jars or vibrations towhich the clock may be subject due to its location, to thereby preventinterference with the time-keeping properties of the clock; further, tohold the entire movement in its shell or case without fastenings and toprevent twisting, rattling or loosening of the bezel and to make itWatertight and to prevent any buckling of the plates of the clockmovement.

Further objects will appear more fully and at large hereinafter.

The invention comprehends the provision of shock absorbing springs whichare so combined with the apparatus and the shell or case holding it thatthe entire movement is spring-cushioned and secured without fastenings,by pressure against the bezel. This shock absorbing means keeps thebezel from twisting and rattling and holds the plates of the movementtogether in case the screws should loosen and prevents vibration frominterfering with the relationship of the parts and their operation. Therelationship of the shock absorbing or cushioning springs to the screws,is an improved one, whereby the spring is held in position, Whileloosely Serial No. 14,489.

surrounding the screw so that the screw and spring may have relativelongitudinal free movement without binding to compensate for vibrationand at the same time to prevent buckling of the springs.

The invention consists further, in the relationship and combination ofthe cushionmg springs with the case and with the pillars which connectthe plates of the frame of the clock, whereby the cushioning and shockabsorbing springs provide a multipoint pressure directly over thepillars, thus rendering it impossible for the pressure to buckle theplates of the clock frame.

The invention consists still further in those features, constructionsand combinations of parts appearing more fully and at large hereinafterand recited in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section throughthe case and bezel, illustrating the use of my invention in connectionwith an electrically wound clock movement such as set forth in myapplication, Serial No. 869,01; Fig. 2, a plan view looking toward theends of the cushioning springs, the movement having been removed fromthe case or shell; and Fig. 3, a detail view partly in section, showingone of the cushioning and shock absorbing springs and its relationshipto a retainer guide and to a pillar connecting the front and back platesof the clock frame.

In the drawings I have shown my improvements applied to an electricallywound clock of the construction set forth in my application, Serial No.869,014, filed October 28, 1914, but this is by way of illustration andI do not limit the invention to use in connection with any particular 7kind of clock, clock movement, or case, except in the particulars setforth in the claims.

The operative parts of the clock movement are carried by a front plate 1and back plate 2 which are spaced apart and connect ed together bypillars 3. Secured to the face of the front plate 1 is a dial 4. Passingthrough the back-plate 2 are the screw threaded ends 16 of the retainingguides 17. The said guides '17 clamp the back-plate 2 to the pillars orspacing members 3 and the plates 1 and 2 are thus held in properrelation to each other. 7

The shock absorbing coil springs 18 (Figs.

1 and 3) loosely surround the retaining guides 17, but at their innerends they are constricted as at 19 and enter a reduced annular portion20 of the retaining guides, whereby the spring is held againstdetachment. but the remaining coils are loose and free from theretaining guide and adapted to permit the latter to move longitudinallyin relation to them to absorb vibrations. At the same time, the innerends 19 of the spring bear against the backplate 2 and form an end-lock,as it were, to prevent unscrewing of the parts 16.

Referring to Fig. 1, the outer ends 21 of the springs bear against theback of the shell or case 22 which houses the clock, and the proportionsof the parts and length of the springs is such that the springs areunder constant tension and hold the dial & against the spacer shell 23and through said shell, press upon the bezel 24 and lock 1t againstrattling or looseness where it is connected by screw-threads 25 to theshell 22. No fastenings of any kind are employed to secure the entireapparatus, including the movement 10, electro-magnet, armature, andpower means in position. The tension of the springs 18 is such that thepressure they exert on the shell and on the back-plate 2 is sufficientto hold the dial 4 firmly against the ring 23 at all times withoutrequiring separate fastenings and to prevent twisting or chattering dueto the vibration to which the clock may be subjected, as for instance,when in use on an automobile. At the same time, the retaining guides 17being shorter than the springs 18, permit a cushioning and shockabsorbing relative movement of the parts without separation. Preferably,there will be but three pillars 3 placed at equal distances apart assuch arrangement provides for all possible movements. I do not limitmyself, however, to the use of but three springs and retaining guides.The hands which travel in front of the dial 4 are shown at 26 and theglass face of the clock at 27. The shell or case is preferably providedwith 'a bracket 28 which is partly broken away in Fig. 1, by which theclock may be secured to the dash of the automobile in suitably inclinedposition for easy observ ance.

It will be seen from Fig. 3 that the pressure of each spring 18 isapplied in line with the end of a pillar 3 and consequently, there is notendency to buckle either the plate 2 or the plate 1. The springs 18 notonly hold the parts of the clock movement together, but they absorb thejar and vibration and keep the bezel in position, making it watertight.

I do not limit myself to the use of three springs, but such constructionis advantageous as a three point pressure provides for all movementsand, being directly applied over the pillars, it is impossible to bucklethe plates of the clock movement.

I am aware that modifications can be resorted to in carr ing out myinvention and I, therefore, consider myself entitled to all forms comingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a clock, the combination with a case, of a removable movementhaving a dial plate which bears against and is arrested by the frontpart of the case, and whose rear or inner part is free from the case,and cushioning and shock absorbing sprin means carried by, andself-contained wit the move ment and interposed between the rear part ofthe movement and the case, serving to normally hold the dial plateagainst the front part of the clock, said movement being adapted to bebodily removed, with the cushioning means, from said case.

2. In a clock, the combination with a case, of a movement having a dialplate which bears against and is arrested by the front part of the case,and whose rear or inner part is free from the case, retaining guidescarried by the frame of the movement at the rear thereof, and coilsprings surrounding said retaining guides and bearing against the case,whereby the movement is springcushioned in the case.

8. In a clock, the combination with a case, of a movement having a dialplate which bears against and is arrested by the front part of the case,and whose rear or inner part is free from the case, retaining guidescarried by the rear of the frame of the movement, and coil springssurrounding said retaining guides, the inner coils of said springs beingengaged with the guides and the remaining portions of the springs beingloose on the guides, adapted for relative movement thereon, and bearingagainst the case, whereby the movement is spring-supported in said case.

4. In a clock, the combination of a case, movement frame plates, pillarsinterposed between the frame plates and having a screw connection withone of them, retaining guides having a screw connection with saidpillars, and coil springs surrounding said retaining guides and bearingagainst the other of said frame plates and against the case, whereby theframe plates are springsupported in the case and the joints of theguides and pillars are locked.

5. In a clock, the combination with a case, of a movement having a dialplate which bears against and is arrested by the front part of the case,and whose rear or inner part is free from the case, said movementcomprising frame plates, pillars connecting the frame plates, shoulderedretaining Ill guides projecting freely from the rear of the against thecase, whereby the movement is 13 frame plates and engaged with thepillars spring-supported in said case and the joint v at their innerends, and coil springs surbetween the retainers and pillars is locked.

rounding said retaining guides, the inner In testimony whereof, Ihereunto aflix my coils of said springs being located between signaturein presence of two Witnesses.

the shoulders of the retainers and the frame WILLIAM H. THOMPSON.

plates and the remaining portions of the Witnesses:

springs being loose on the guides, adapted FRANK F. DAVIS,

for relative movement thereon, and bearing J OHN W. FARLEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

